# Virtual Private Server (VPS) A Virtual Private Server (VPS) is a virtual machine that runs on a physical server shared with other VPS instances, each isolated through virtualization technology. Unlike shared hosting, a VPS provides dedicated resources (CPU, RAM, storage), root access, and the ability to run a custom operating system; offering a balance between the affordability of shared hosting and the control of a dedicated server. Common uses include web/application hosting, development environments, database servers, email servers, file storage, and running self-hosted services. VPS hosting comes in managed (provider handles maintenance), unmanaged (user handles everything), or cloud-based (scalable infrastructure) variants. ## References - AWS: https://aws.amazon.com/what-is/vps/ - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_server ## Related - [[Self-hosting]]